Meetings focus on superintendent search

JENNIFER BRANCH

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, August 15, 2005

The board is very interested in hearing from our staff and our community about the various attributes they feel are important for the new superintendent to possess," said Nelda Sullivan, president of the Board of Trustees. "It is important that we find someone who brings the leadership, knowledge, skills and talents we need to continue the improvements (Superintendent) Dr. (Rick) Schneider has accomplished over the past 13 years."

The board has hired Communicaid, a facilitator who will conduct the focus groups to compile a profile of the type of person the staff and the community wishes to fill Schneider's position when he retires in January of 2006.

After compiling a profile from information gathered in the focus groups, the board will decide whether they will hire from inside, or outside of the district.

"(The board) will move with deliberation, but their main interest will be in making the right choice," said Kirk Lewis, a district spokesman. "They don't want to rush into a decision."

Each of the three meetings will have two sessions from which to choose. The public is invited to attend any of the available sessions to share their thoughts and ideas.

The meetings will take place on from 6 to 7 p.m. and from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30; from 6 to 7 p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31; and from 6 to 7 p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1.

All meetings will be held Room T-101 of the Pasadena ISD Administration Building at 1515 Cherrybrook. "We want to encourage anyone interested in providing this valuable feedback to come to one of these sessions," Sullivan said. "This is an important part of the selection process and will help us determine the next step in our superintendent search.

"We urge anyone who is interested in helping us make this critical decision to attend one of these sessions."